TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 10 September 1909, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

A good indication of the improving conditions in New ZeaIncreasing land is given in a reexports, port just issued by the Department ot Industries and Commerce of the value ofi>-'oju.tr. P¥portfd during the month of August; aiid Vhese figures eompave'l with those for the corresponding month of last year show that there has been an increase of £114,586, from £836,063 in 1908 to £950,649 in this year. Details show the value of some of the prin.

cipal product as follows:— H Aug. 1909. Aug. 1908. & ss 4« sar t *^ ST g:l imiS Hides, Skins, & irallow 152,226 Wool 166,436 182.56G fiold 154,969 158, /08

It is thus seen that tho most strj cinfadvance is that connected with wlicr.t and oats, which is fully 7CO per cunt The dairvling industry shows an m_ie*_,; Qf 117 'per cent. ; the beef exports follow "-1HS-.V .vUh I"' increase of about UO nor cent. The cons^eru'-'i: il^'A'^l"^ in the value of frozen meat is noticeable; but with flie niftrkct. ill >ts present state this is by no mearis ti ti>i;tt.r for regret. We have already dealt with the legislative prospects of Parties in the th^ coming session. Housks. # is ji*WFesting i» turn'' to other matters. The words of the Spenkov when addressing a political meeting (it Greymouth some time ago, that there would be a "jolly good row" whon Parliament meets have not been forgotten by the peojne, it seems that there is something more than iJ.h> prophecy behind his words. ' Mr Massey, av.<* his oljl.e lieutenant, Mr Allen, liave been doiijg a great deal of talking, "and it is perfectly evident' that ihfiy niean business and, whilst it is hard to be|it;vo that Ri)ythi*)g P^ a really serious nature may be efiecUd by them, it is a selfevident fact that they will hi t^lfl tp "make matters merry." And it will be fl- gP9d thing too so long as they "play the game" and not the man. The strengthening t>f ths pHpositi/in ranks at the general election fast yeai was a good thing for the country, for the Government lias had the reins too much in its own hands. Nobody wants to see an unstable Government, in power, no matter which Party ls on top, but a really live and sufficiently strong Oppositdon is a necessity if the best legislative work is to be done, and this acts quite as much in tha administrative sphere. As has been stated before, it does not seem likely that the Government will suffer defeat, as some critics would havo the people believe, •but ij. ir. evidtnt that the Parties will be much more- evenly bfl-nct'd Ihan has been tjie pase in the- pas;<.